A short article about Southern Ocean science during the International Polar Year from the perspective of one of the IPY projects, ICED-IPY, (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean" has been published in the IMBER newsletter. The role of the polar oceans in the global climate system remains poorly understood. The collection of new comprehensive ocean data from both poles (over 40 IPY ocean projects) during IPY will allow comparisons with historic information and provide guidance for future predictions of climate change and for management of polar ocean ecosystems.